Now Commenting On:

Reliever Putkonen set for rehab assignment

9/20/13: Luke Putkonen gets the final out of the Tigers' 12-5 victory, putting the finishing touch on Max Scherzer's 20th victory

By Jason Beck and Matt Slovin
/
MLB.com |

DETROIT -- Tigers long reliever Luke Putkonen, who is eligible to come off the disabled list, threw another side session on Monday and will report to Class A West Michigan on Wednesday to begin a rehab assignment.

Inflammation in the elbow sidelined Putkonen after his last outing on April 18. West Michigan is the destination for his rehab assignment because Triple-A Toledo is on the road at Pawtucket.

"We will see how it goes," manager Brad Ausmus said. "If everything goes well, he'll probably have another rehab stint."

Ausmus added that Putkonen's second rehab outing would probably not be with West Michigan. Toledo returns home Friday. Putkonen's eventual return will give the Tigers their long reliever back. Detroit's bullpen has the third-worst ERA in the Majors (5.31).

"I felt good," Putkonen said Saturday after a Friday bullpen session. "I spun a few curveballs at the end."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. Matt Slovin is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.